percussion
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ənBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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| the largest tarsal bone, forming the prominence of the heel. |
| the inner of the two bones of the leg, that extend from the knee to the ankle; the shinbone |
percussion (pəˈkʌʃən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the act, an instance, or an effect of percussing |
| 2. | music the family of instruments in which sound arises from the striking of materials with sticks, hammers, or the hands |
| 3. | music |
| a. instruments of this family constituting a section of an orchestra, band, etc | |
| b. (as modifier): a percussion ensemble | |
| 4. | med the act of percussing a body surface |
| 5. | the act of exploding a percussion cap |
| [C16: from Latin percussiō, from percutere to hit; see | |
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percussion
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percussion per·cus·sion (pər-kŭsh'ən)
n.
A method of medical diagnosis in which various areas of the body, especially the chest, back, and abdomen, are tapped with the finger or a plexor to determine by resonance the condition of internal organs.
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percussion definition
A family of musical instruments played by striking their surfaces. Percussion instruments are used to accentuate and dramatize certain notes or rhythms and include instruments such as cymbals, drums, triangles, and xylophones. (See kettledrum, snare drum, and orchestra.)
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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percussion
in medicine, diagnostic procedure that entails striking the body directly or indirectly with short, sharp taps of a finger or, rarely, a hammer. The procedure was first described in 1761 by the Austrian physician Leopold Auenbrugger von Auenbrugg. Although generally ignored by his contemporaries, it is now routinely employed. The sounds produced by the procedure are helpful in determining the size and position of various internal organs, in revealing the presence of fluid or air in the chest, and in aiding in the diagnosis of certain lung disorders.
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